The Ulster Cycle consists of a corpus of tales forming one of the main branches of early Irish Literature, which have come down to us across countless generations; existing first as part of an oral tradition in Ireland until it was later chronicled by early Christian monks in the manuscripts that survive to this day. The most well known series of narratives within the Ulster Cycle - Táin Bó Cuailgne or 'The Cattle Raid of Cooley' - relates the adventures and exploits of the mythic champion and heroic demigod Cú Chulainn, as he single-handedly defends his people against the advancing armies of Queen Meadhbh and King Aillil.

From the unlikely origins of its principle characters, to similarities with ancient Greek and Indo-European tradition; and from warp-spasms and beheadings to more tender moments, join your hosts Claire Doohan and Jonny Dillon as they take up arms to explore this bloody epic, themselves engaging in bitter dispute on the nature of heroic spirit along the way!

Further reading:

(Online)

Táin Bó Cuailgne Recension 1: https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T301012/index.html

Táin Bó Cuailgne; Adaptation from Dunn & Windisch: http://adminstaff.vassar.edu/sttaylor/Cooley/

(Print)

Kinsella, Thomas (1969)The Táin: Translated from the Irish epic Táin Bó Cuailnge, London, Oxford University Press.

Carey, John (1999). 'Cú Chulainn as Ailing Hero' in Ronald Black, William Gillies; Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh. Celtic Connections: Proceedings of the Tenth International Congress of Celtic Studies, Vol. 1. East Linton: Tuckwell. pp. 190–8.

Nagy, Joseph Falaky (1984) 'Heroic Destinies in the Macgnímrada of Finn and Cú Chulainn'. Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie. 40: 23–39.

Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí (2006). The lore of Ireland : an Encyclopaedia of Myth, Legend and Romance. Doughcloyne, Ireland : Rochester, N.Y. ; Boydell & Brewer,Collins Press.